Marrubium vulgare

Marrubium vulgare (white horehound or common horehound) is a flowering plant in the mint family (Lamiaceae), native to Europe, northern Africa, and southwestern and central Asia. Specifically, it emerged in the region between the Mediterranean Sea and Central Asia and now inhabits all continents. It is also widely naturalized in many places, including most of North and South America. It is a grey-leaved herbaceous perennial plant, and grows to 25–45 centimetres (10–18 in) tall. The leaves are 2–5 cm (0.8–2.0 in) long with a densely crinkled surface, and are covered in downy hairs. The flowers are white, borne in clusters on the upper part of the main stem.

Description

A herb. The plant which keeps growing from year to year. The taproot is stout and branched. The stems are erect and white and woolly. They are square. It grows 80 cm high. The leaves are soft and wrinkled. They are oval to round and 1.5-3.5 cm across. They are pale grey-green. They have distinct net veins underneath. The leaves have blunt teeth around the edge. The flowers are white. They have lips and are tubular. They occur in round clusters up the stem. The nutlets are oblong and have 3 angles. They are 2 mm long.

Edible Uses

The leaves are used as a seasoning condiment — bitter and pungent, they are sometimes added to flavour herb beer or liqueurs, and horehound ale is a fairly well-known drink made from them. A mildly pleasant tea can also be brewed from the fresh or dried leaves, and is a popular home remedy for coughs.

Traditional Uses

The fresh and dried leaves are added to hot water to make a tea. The bitter extract is used in candies and cordials. They are also used as a flavouring for liqueurs. The crushed leaves can be added to honey and eaten. Caution. It should not be eaten in large amounts.

Medicinal Uses

White horehound is a well-established herbal remedy commonly used for coughs, colds, and wheeziness. It appears to promote the secretion of a more fluid mucus that is more easily cleared by coughing. The leaves and young flowering stems are antiseptic, antispasmodic, cholagogue, diaphoretic, digestive, diuretic, emmenagogue, strongly expectorant, hepatic, stimulant, and tonic. Considered a valuable pectoral, expectorant, and tonic, it is safe for use by both children and adults, and is often prepared as a syrup or candy to mask its very bitter flavour, though it can also be taken as a tea. As a bitter tonic it stimulates appetite and supports stomach function, and can also help normalise heart rhythm. The plant is harvested as it comes into flower and may be used fresh or dried. The root is used as a remedy for rattlesnake bite, combined in equal portions with Plantago lanceolata or P. major. The German Commission E Monographs approve this plant for dyspepsia and loss of appetite.

Known Hazards

Heart rhythm, blood pressure, and blood glucose levels affected by large doses. Avoid during pregnancy and breast feeding. Diabetes mellitus patients on allopathic medication to lower blood sugar should avoid.

Distribution

It is a temperate plant. It grows in dry areas in degraded pasture. It will grow in most soils and in most positions. It can grow on chalk or limestone and on sand. It is resistant to frost and drought. In Argentina it grows from sea level to 4,000 m above sea level. It suits plant hardiness zones 3-8. Tasmania Herbarium. In Hobart Botanical gardens.

Where It Grows

Afghanistan, Africa, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Balkans, Bolivia, Bosnia, Brazil, Britain, Canada, Central Asia, Chile, China, Easter Island, Europe*, France, Greece, India, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Mediterranean, Morocco, New Zealand, Norfolk Island, North Africa, North America, Norway, Pakistan, Portugal, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Scandinavia, Sicily, South Africa, Southern Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Tasmania, Turkey, Türkiye, Turkmenistan, Uruguay, USA, Uzbekistan,

Cultivation

White horehound is an easily grown plant that succeeds in most well-drained soils, though it flourishes best in a poor dry soil. Another report says that the plant flourishes best where there is plenty of nitrogen in the soil. It prefers neutral to alkaline soil conditions and requires a warm sunny position if it is to do well. Often grown in the herb garden and sometimes cultivated commercially as a medicinal herb. If the plant is cut back after flowering it will normally produce a second crop of leaves. The fresh leaves have a pronounced musky smell, though this is lost once the plant is dried. A good bee plant. White horehound is a good companion plant for growing near tomatoes. The tomatoes crop for a longer period and also produce a heavier crop. In garden design, as well as the above-ground architecture of a plant, root structure considerations help in choosing plants that work together for their optimal soil requirements including nutrients and water.

Propagation

Sow seed in April/May or August/September in a cold frame; germination can be slow and erratic. Prick out seedlings into individual pots when large enough to handle and plant out the following spring. Basal cuttings can be taken in late spring — harvest shoots with plenty of underground stem when they are about 8–10cm above ground, pot individually, and keep in light shade in a cold frame or greenhouse until rooting well, then plant out in summer. Divide plants in spring; larger clumps can go directly into permanent positions, while smaller clumps are best potted up and grown on in a cold frame until well rooted before planting out in spring.

Other Uses

An essential oil obtained from the plant is used as a flavouring in liqueurs. The plant has been used as a cure for cankerworm in trees — likely applied as a strong infusion of the flowering shoots or as the essential oil itself. The growing plant is also reported to repel flies.

Other Information

It is cultivated.

Notes

It was used for coughs. It is a bitter herb and has been used for the Jewish Passover Feast. There are about 30-40 Marrubium species.

Synonyms

Also Known As

Farasiym, Frkizoud, Karaderme, Khwrashka, Malva del congo, Malvarrubia, Marrubio, Marvel, Mrouta, Paharigandana, Toronjil cutano, Yerba cuyana

References (43)

• Abbet, C., et al, 2014, Ethnobotanical survey on wild alpine food plants in Lower and Central Valais (Switzerland). Journal of Ethnopharmacology 151 (2014) 624–634
• Al-Sodany, Y. M., et al, 2013, Medicinal Plants in Saudi Arabia: I. Sarrwat Mountains at Taif, KSA. Academic Journal of Plant Sciences 6 (4): 134-145
• Ambasta, S.P. (Ed.), 2000, The Useful Plants of India. CSIR India. p 357
• Blamey, M and Grey-Wilson, C., 2005, Wild flowers of the Mediterranean. A & C Black London. p 391
• Blanco-Salas, J., et al, 2019, Wild Plants Potentially Used in Human Food in the Protected Area “Sierra Grande de Hornachos” of Extremadura (Spain). Sustainability 2019, 11, 456

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